Fingal County Council, along with 19 other local authorities, will support local disabilities groups as they hit the streets on Make Way Day, which is taking place on Thursday September 26.

The groups will provide friendly reminders not to:

  • Park on the footpath
  • Forget your bins or use illegal sandwich boards
  • Carelessly park bikes on the street

People with disabilities have told the campaign leaders, the Disability Federation of Ireland (DFI) that these are the top three obstacles that stop them getting from A to B.

Speaking about the initiative, Fingal County Council’s Access Officer Brian Buckley said: “By making these small changes we can all make a big difference to the lives of our fellow citizens. We are delighted to once again support Make Way Day.”

Mayor of Fingal Cllr Eoghan O’Brien said: “I am delighted to see that Fingal County Council is continuing with its involvement in Make Way Day. It is important that awareness is raised among the general public that their behaviour can cause difficulties for those with disabilities.”

The towns and groups taking part are: Centre for Independent Living Blanchardstown, Clonakilty Access Group, Mallow Disability Group, groups from Rehab’s training facility in Sandymount and children and parents from Enable Ireland, Kilkenny. People can expect to see Make Way Day stickers reminding them to make way for people with disabilities.

You can also expect a blitz of social media posts (videos, photographs) with the hashtags #MakeWayDay and #MakeWayFingal. Everyone can get involved. Upload your photos and videos of obstacles on our streets and call for national recognition of #MakeWayDay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

“It’s a lack of awareness that leads to these obstacles and once people are aware, we find they’re willing to help”, said DFI spokesperson Clare Cronin. “For the small minority who need it, we are delighted this year to have the backing of the Roads Policing unit of An Garda Síochána.”

Please see https://www.disability-federation.ie/about/publications.html to find out the number of people in your area with disabilities.